BRAD FRIEDEL – AMERICAN SOCCER HERO

Brad Friedel Inspires America’s Next Rising Stars

Soccer News: Former United States Men’s National Team goalkeeper Brad Friedel remainsa huge influence in American soccer – today he is leading the way for the next generation of soccer heroes to hit the pitch.

As the U19 Men’s National Team head coach, Friedel is in a position to take his considerable experience and pave the path to raise the bar on American soccer performance. After all, how many pros have played 310 consecutive games in the EPL?

310 is Friedel’s website on what it takes to be a goalkeeper who could play 310 consecutive games. This last match was on September 29, 2012, when Friedel at age 41 started for Tottenham Hotspur when they beat Manchester United.

This streak of 310 consecutive English Premier League starts shattered the previous record of 166 games.

Want to Know More on Brad Friedel’s Playing Past?

Freidel played 82 games for the USMNT between 1992-2005 and suited up for three FIFA World Cup tournaments. He is the current holder of the Premier League record for most consecutive appearances with 310, a feat he achieved during spells at Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur.

A native of Bay Village, Ohio, Friedel played college soccer at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In 1990, he led the Bruins to a NCAA championship. Friedel was later selected as the first team All-American goalkeeper in 1991 and 1992, as well as won the Hermann Trophy in 1993 as the top collegiate soccer player.

The beginning of Friedel’s professional spell in England saw delays due to being denied a British work permit.

After failing to receive a visa, his agent negotiated a $1.1 million transfer from the USSF to leading Turkish team Galatasaray in 1995, which was managed by Friedel’s future Blackburn Rovers manager Graeme Souness.

In February 1997, he signed a three-year contract with the Crew as he was named the team’s starting goalkeeper. That season, he was selected to the MLS Best XI and named the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year.

Friedel completed a transfer to Liverpool in 1997, marking his first professional contract in the Premier League. Liverpool gained a work permit for Friedel on appeal after the first request was denied.

In 2002, Friedel signed with Blackburn where he spent eight seasons with the club.

Friedel announced his retirement in 2015 but has remained on the pitch. On January 5, 2016, he was named the United States U19 Men’s National Team head coach. He also won the 2017 CONCACAF U20 Championship as assistant coach of the U.S. team with Tab Ramos and Omid Namazi.

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Chris Rael is a reporter for GoalNation and covers youth and adult soccer.
A multimedia artist whose hobbies include camping, traveling and playing football as much as possible. Chris is based in Rotterdam, Netherlands.